About Us

We bring together faithand community to create better impacton the ministries that you care about. We work directly with generous givers like you to multiply the power of your giving and the passion of your heart. As an independent faith-based organization, we can simplify your giving to any Christian charity.

Our Mission

Although a separate entity, E91 Foundation provides a new view of ministry opportunities for the East 91st Street Christian Church. E91 Foundation’s unique structure provides for a long-term Christian charitable legacy. This is separate from the Church’s ongoing business and operating budget. E91 Foundation provides grants to Christian ministries with a special concentration on funding new or expanding Christian ministries.

E91 Foundation adheres to Christian beliefs and principles, affirming that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died and was resurrected, and who provides individuals with their only hope of salvation. Based on these beliefs, E91 Foundation:

assists God’s people seeking advice in designing their estate plans;

stands as an instrument of continuous stewardship to God, by providing God’s people the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for the support of Christian service through bequests, gifts, and memorial donations;

invests donations into an Investment Fund; and

donates the Investment Fund’s income to Christian organizations through grants.

E91 Foundation provides a vehicle for the broader Christian community to remember Christ and give a portion of their family’s final assets or unexpected proceeds back to God.

We encourage all grant seekers to review our FAQ for guidelines before contact is made via our Contact Us page.

Grantmaking

While a board maintains the endowment and grants funds to qualifying entities, donors can make a contribution for specific purposes or create an endowed fund, and then the board uses the interest each year within the donor’s guidelines to fund missions and ministries.

go to Christian organizations adhering to Christian beliefs and principles;

be directed primarily to local Christian organizations for new and expanding ministries in the field of evangelism, church planting, benevolence, medical care, education, and missions;

be in the $1,000 to $5,000 range;

go to only tax-exempt organizations; and

not support East 91st St. Christian Church’s day-to-day operating expenses.

From inception until 2016, E91 Foundation has invested bequests, memorials, and gifts. In that same time, E91 Foundation has granted more than $1.2 million to evangelical nonprofit ministries in Indianapolis and across the world.

Our History

In 1994, the East 91st Street Christian Church plowed new ground with formation of the East 91st Street Christian Church Foundation (E91 Foundation), an independent trust fund that gathers the seeds of bequests and donations from church members and friends and grows long-lasting legacies that nourish evangelical nonprofit charities and ministries locally and throughout the world.

The idea sprouted through the desire to grow a deeper understanding of faith-based giving and the need to encourage giving among the church membership. The nondenominational, independent, and evangelical foundation fertilizes social and spiritual change by allowing donors to directly choose the charities and projects they want to impact. This empowers the donors and cultivates fruitful investments to meet the physical and emotional needs of hurting people.

While the Church and E91 Foundation are separate entities, they complement each other by allowing congregants of any church to provide seed money for new and expanding ministries and give lasting gifts to help people and projects develop over time. Donors can grow their contributions for greater impact in the world and choose where their support goes, alongside their regular tithing to the church.

While a board maintains the endowment and grants funds to qualifying entities, donors can contribute for specific purposes or create an endowed fund, and then the board uses the interest each year within the donor’s guidelines to fund missions and ministries.

E91 Foundation provides a new view of ministry opportunities for the East 91st Street Christian Church, allowing the church to enhance outreach and better live out the life of the congregation in service to the Lord. E91 Foundation’s structure provides a long-term Christian charitable entity separate from the Church’s day-to-day business and budget that offers support to Christian organizations both in and outside the church.

E91 Foundation provides a vehicle for congregants to remember Christ and give a portion of their assets back to God, provide seed money for new and expanding ministries that will offer lasting gifts to help people and projects develop and grow over time.

From inception until 2016, E91 Foundation has invested bequests, memorials, and gifts. In that same time, E91 Foundation has granted more than $1.2 million to evangelical nonprofit ministries in Indianapolis and across the world.

E91 Foundation operates as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation chartered by the State of Indiana and is registered and recognized as a private foundation by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

E91 Foundation Board

With a long career and educational history in journalism, Andrew Blair Austin is president and CEO of Austin Group, LLC, which is a property management, investment, and consulting firm headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. He is also an English adjunct professor for Ivy Tech Community College.

John W. SeybertBoard Member, Secretary

John W. Seybert, of Indianapolis, Indiana, is a retired mathematics education profession who earned an undergraduate degree from California University of Pennsylvania, a master’s from Duquesne University, and doctorate in educational leadership from Indiana University. He holds a Letter of Eligibility certification from West Virginia University and a specialty in educational leadership from Indiana University.

David FaustStaff Representative

David Faust holds degrees from the State University of New York (Empire State College), Kentucky Christian University, and Cincinnati Christian University. Having earned his doctorate in ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, he has served as a Christian minister for more than 40 years, leading churches in New York and Ohio. He was also president of Cincinnati Christian University for 12 years.

John C SamplesBoard Member

John C. Samples began studying for Christian ministry after 12 years in sales and public service. After attaining Bible college and seminary degrees, he served local churches for 55 years, 15 of which as director of Christian ministries for Standard Publishing. In that national ministry, he served churches through areas of church growth, education, and as editor of two Christian magazines.

Beth AustinBoard Member

In addition to being a pediatric registered nurse at Clarian Health in Indianapolis, Indiana, Beth Ann Austin teaches pediatric nursing and assessment in nursing as an adjunct professor of nursing for University of Indianapolis, Marian University, and Ivy Tech Community College. She has also taught for the Licensed Practical Nurse program at J. Everett Light Career Center and St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing. She was also ambulatory scheduling coordinator at St. Vincent Hospital.

Ron CostlowElder Representative

Ron Costlow is a retired partner from BKD, LLP, CPAs and Advisors in 2013. During his 50-year tenure with the company, he served the accounting, auditing, and tax consulting needs of financial institutions in the Midwest. In addition, he has provided consulting services in mergers and acquisitions, holding company formation, SEC reporting, stock and bond issues, operational efficiencies, preparation of business plans and projections, regulatory reporting, fraud investigations, and security regulations.

Tom BrinkerhoffBoard Member

Tom J. Brinkerhoff has been a certified public accountant with Brinkerhoff and Associates for more than 40 years. Before that, he worked at Arthur Andersen and Company, St. Paul Companies, Ernst & Ernst, and Filbey, Andrews & Filbey. He received a bachelor’s degree with high honors and master’s from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While there, he was involved in Alpha Kappa Psi and Sigma Tau Gamma.

David Schlueter, M.D.Board Member

I grew up in Louisville KY where my father was a pastor. After high school I attended and graduated from Elmhurst College. I then spent four years at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, graduating in 1961. All senior med students were drafted and I spent three years in the navy with submarine squadron 16. I returned to The medical center here in Indianapolis completing a four year residency in urology.

Derek WallaceBoard Member, President

Derek was born in Scotland and raised in Zimbabwe, Africa. He has a B.A. degree from Kentucky Christian University, with additional studies at Indiana University and Fuller Theological Seminary.

Bob KlingerBoard Member

Scott ReadBoard Member, Treasurer

Pat Solenberg

Patricia Solenberg is a graduate of Iowa State University. After a career as a research scientist at Eli Lilly and Co. she also contributed to research initiatives and leadership at two biotech start-up companies in the Indianapolis area. Pat has been involved in E91 mission trips and local ministries that focus on outreach, mentoring, and financial stewardship.